An interview with SMS Sugar Man producer Michelle Wheatley

1. Tell us some things about you. Who is Michelle Wheatley?

Hhmmm, that question caught me off guard… Usually people want to know about the director. I’m driven by passion; I absolutely love what I do. I’m not interested in conventional projects; I like to be on the edge. Doesn’t always make for easy film making…

2. Why did you decide to produce a movie that is shot exclusively with the use of mobile phones?

I have been collaborating with the director for many years. We had recently done a documentary together titled “Giant Steps”. We discussed how we could make a film with technology that was accessible to all. That filmmaking wasn’t necessarily limited to only “filmmakers”. Also we knew it was bound to happen, so why should we wait for anyone else to do it, only to follow in their footsteps. The director Aryan Kaganof felt very strongly about it being a world first for South Africa. He was the first director in the world to blow up digital video to film with his film “Wasted!”. He was then living in exile in Holland and felt that South Africa never got its due respect.

3. Which are the technical difficulties concerning that? Is the quality of the picture worse? Can you give us an overview on this matter?

Nothing was difficult, it was just a matter of problem solving and trouble shooting. We weren’t sure at what frame rate the mobiles actually shot at, so we tested them all. The Ericsson that we used shoots 30 frames per second.

Is the quality of the picture worse than what?
We aren’t trying to make a movie that looks like digital and we aren’t trying to make a movie that looks like film. We are merely making a movie, filmed on mobiles, that will be blown up to 35mm.

4. How would you characterize the movie SMS Sugar Man? Does it belong in the ordinary forms of filmmaking or does it create a new form?

It definitely creates a new form, but I can only speak about this after the release. Stay tuned!

5. Do you believe that films like SMS Sugar Man are going to be successful? Should we expect to see much more movies to be created that way in the future?

I hope that SMS Sugar Man will be successful, what quantifies success? When you have made a feature film so radically low budget as we have, it can be financially successful, but we also need to make it a critical success.

6. Was it difficult for the actors to play in front of a camera of a mobile phone? Which other differences were there as far as the editing process, etc. is concerned?

No, it was much easier. Usually you have a huge camera and boom operator and hordes of crew and onlookers. In this project we had four key people around, and two or three mobile phones as cameras. The actors completely forgot that the cameras were there. With this technology, all you need are memory sticks. So very often you will have three or four mobiles running at one time, so you cut down on takes, which can be a huge bonus for the cast. It also means that you have the takes from all angles.

7. Many believe that making a movie like that is cheaper than doing it any other way. Is this true?

Yes and no…. Our ethos wasn’t only to shoot on mobiles phones, but to only use existing light, cast to do their own hair and make-up etc
The director and producer need to drive this process in tandem. Even on a small picture costs can blow up if it isn’t managed. The camera budget was indeed much smaller as mobile phones are not expensive, you also cut down on the stock costs as you use memory sticks.

8. Which are the advantages and the disadvantages concerning making a movie with mobile phones?

I have only made one movie on mobile phones, which was all geared to making the world’s first feature film on mobiles, ask me when the second one is made!

9. Many people believe that mobile phones help everyday people become artists on their own. How do you comment on that?

Good for them, I’m not a purist when it comes to “film”, I believe that each person should have the means to express themselves creatively and if that means is mobile phones, great!

10. Which are your future plans?

The future, at this stage I can only think day by day…. Obviously to finish SMS Sugar Man and get it to as many people as possible, be it via mobile phones, internet, DVD, cinema. We are really excited about exploring the global distribution of the film utilizing available digital technology.

PIC CAPTION: producer Michelle Wheatley in a typical pose